SPOCD1 Aggravates Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common subtypes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), characterized by high recurrence rates and poor prognosis. SPOCD1 has been identified as a facilitator of tumor progression in several cancers; however, its regulatory role in OSCC has not yet been reported. DESIGN: Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we examined SPOCD1 expression in HNSCC tissues. mRNA and protein levels of SPOCD1 in OSCC cells were assessed by RT-qPCR and western blotting. The effects of SPOCD1 on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were evaluated using CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, and Transwell assays. Western blotting was performed to confirm the impact of SPOCD1 on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. The influence of SPOCD1 on tumor growth was further investigated in vivo. RESULTS: Analysis of the TCGA database revealed that SPOCD1 expression was upregulated in HNSCC tissues, consistent with our experimental data showing increased SPOCD1 expression in OSCC cells. Inhibition of SPOCD1 suppressed cell proliferation, while its overexpression enhanced proliferation. Similarly, SPOCD1 knockdown reduced migration and invasion, whereas overexpression promoted these processes. In addition, SPOCD1 was found to activate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that SPOCD1 significantly accelerated tumor growth. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SPOCD1 promotes OSCC growth and metastasis by activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, indicating that SPOCD1 may represent a potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.